This list is a homage to the K-dramas that were not released in 2023, but ones I found myself watching and enjoying so much—well, maybe not so much for the last drama mentioned.
Regardless, these dramas were extremely touching, immersive, and commanding in their own ways, and I couldn’t stop myself from looking back upon them and appraising them.
Here they are, enjoy!
Seasons of Blossoms (2022)
When I say I’m craving a romantic drama — a deep, soul-baring, tender, and vastly heartfelt one, the kind to douse my heart with painstaking warmth and suck my soul in intimately, Seasons of Blossoms is what I mean.
I’m forever indebted to @kdramadicttt on IG for this melancholic yet utterly beautiful recommendation; I loved the main romance wholly and deeply.
There’s lurking darkness in our leading character, Lee Ha Min (Seo Ji Hoon), but the quiet comfort, curiosity, warmth, and intimacy that he found with the peaceful, unassuming and accepting character, Han So Mang (So Ju Yeon), was so weighty and precious. I wanted it to last forever and forever. I wanted their cocoon—the safe haven they’d built around each other to be protected and hidden away from the brutality and cruelty of the world, forever and ever.
It’s hard to believe that such a pure, mature, and devoted romance is a high school romance, but it is.
The silent love between Ha Min and So Mang was so deep and personal (I especially lived for their tight, lingering hugs, ugghhhh, so vulnerable, so heavy with intimacy and surrendering), and nothing compared to the chemistry that they shared—to the extent that I could care less about other characters and couples in this show.
Thank you Seasons of Blossoms for coming to me. Thank you to the actors Seo Ji Hoon and So Ju Yeon, for delivering such an imprinting, heartbreakingly tender and intimate performance. Thank you to the writer and director. Truly, because of you all, I was transported to a magical world in 2023, albeit briefly.❤️
Our Blues (2022)
This drama was responsible for the drift I felt from Crash Course in Romance… for a good while. I made a mistake—no, a life-changing decision, to check out Our Blues while excitedly waiting for new episodes of CCIR to come out every weekend— and the depth and brilliance I was met with, stunned me.
I kept being blown away by the highly experienced and nuanced lenses with which a variety of serious social and mental issues were explored. The writer of the show went all out, delving into tabooed topics such as depression, teenage pregnancy, disability, divorce, deceit, and friendship fallouts in complex and layered ways never visited before.
Against the gorgeous, scenic backdrop of Jeju Island, the writer explored these themes through interconnected relationships and characters, crafting deeply thought-provoking, enlightening, and insightful scenes, showing us just how intimately she understands the experiences and feelings of humans across different age groups and social classes.
I learnt sooo much from this show and regard it extremely highly. Truly a drama for the ages that I’m grateful I picked up in 2023. My detailed review of the show is here.
Weak Hero Class One (2022)
Outlandishly violent as this high school drama is, it was a thrill to watch.
I was absorbed with every bit of the action and emotions the show served—the dexterous fight scenes and performance of the cast were especially impressive and mind-blowing.
Park Ji Hoon amazed me with how deeply he portrayed varying dark and vulnerable emotions. I was scared for his mental health. He was so consistent in his immersion and embodiment that I feared for his health. He truly gave an astonishing performance. Hong Kyung, on the other hand, was a consistent scene stealer. What an actor. Choi Hyun Wook was his shining self, being all charismatic and goofy in the unique way only he knows how.
I’m dizzy with excitement to know that the second part to Weak Hero Class One is on the way—through Netflix no less—and would be starring Park Ji Hoon, Lee Min Jae from Crash Course in Romance and Ryeoun from Twinkling Watermelon – all young actors I fell in love with in 2023. Guys, PINCH ME!!!
It’s about to go downnnnnnnn. Find my review of its first part here!
Stranger (2017)
Go online and search all you want, but you wouldn’t be able to find one negative review about this show. Not a single one.
Both experts and casual watchers have nothing but the highest reverence and awe for the perfection they deem this show to be.
Against my will, I consistently came across such fervent reviews, and for some weird reasons—maybe it was the time I was seriously bored with 2023 K-dramas—but I felt the urge to watch a gripping and suspenseful show, so I dug out this crime thriller.
The outcome?
I sincerely didn’t feel the same level of awe others felt. Yes, it hooked me here and there, but I wasn’t as impressed or mind blown.
However, I was very intrigued and fascinated with Choi Seung Woo’s performance as the unfeeling prosecutor, Hwang Si Mok. In the hands of a less talented and pulling actor, this role would have been easily boring, bland, unlikable, and uninteresting. But Choi Seung Woo elevated it without so much as trying hard. He was effortlessly compelling in his unassuming stoicism and ambiguity—barely altering his facial expressions and rarely showing emotions, yet tugging at my heart.
I enjoyed Bae Doona and Shin Hye Sun’s performances as well. In fact I enjoyed Shin Hye Sun’s performance so much and loved her unprecedented chemistry with Choi Seung Woo, finding her ending to be so painful as an audience.
All in all, Stranger was an interesting show. It just didn’t grip me as hard as expected.
Conclusion
There you have it, lovers!
Thank you for reading, as usual❤️.
If you’re yet to, make sure you check out the 7 K-dramas that stood out to me in 2023 here, the ones I found disturbing but strangely enjoyable here, and the ones I found to be crazy boring and disappointing here.😀